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The Abbreviated Website History
of the
British South Africa Police
Pro Rege Pro Lege Pro Patria

Written and compiled by Andrew Field (8646)

This page remains "under construction", its publication being solely to elicit comment from certain invited parties.  It should not be considered a complete work, nor do we recommend it be used for reference purposes for the time being.   If you wish to comment, constructively, on the contents this would be welcomed via the webmaster.

 

Introduction

This web page attempts to outline the rich history of the British South Africa Police in an abbreviated form and provides a number of interesting facts about the force from the days when it provided valuable military assistance to both a Royal Charter Company and later the British Empire, when it became a renowned Colonial police force with strong allegiance to the British Crown, and later a para-military police force involved in the defence of a Republic which had declared its Independence from Britain.

The British South Africa Police force sees its origins in the Royal Charter authorising the formation of the British South Africa Company in 1889 shortly before the Pioneer Column entered the territory which was eventually to become Rhodesia.   Formed and trained at Macloutsie in Bechuanaland as a mounted infantry unit, the force's initial task was to protect the Pioneer Column.  On arrival at what was to become Fort Salisbury it was evident that the force would have to assume a more civil role in policing the immediate area of occupation and later surrounding farms and mines.

The Mashonaland Mounted Police was formed in 1892 to serve this purpose and in 1893, after the Matabele occupation, the Matabeleland Mounted Police was established followed by the Matabeleland Native Police in 1894 under the control of "Native Commissioners".  Other forces, including municipal forces in both Salisbury and Bulawayo, were established before they were all amalgamated into a single force by 1909 when control of the BSA Police transferred to the Imperial Government under the control of one Commissioner of Police.

After the occupations there followed two separate uprisings by the indigenous Mashona and Matabele tribes, both of which appear to have taken advantage of depleted police manpower, in the wake of Dr Leander Jameson's ill fated raid of the Boer Republic of Transvaal.    The native rebellions were eventually suppressed.  

In consequence of the Jameson Raid debacle, the British High Commission in the Cape placed all Southern Rhodesian Forces, including the Police, under the command of a Commandant General, Sir Richard Martin.  The force also played a small role, along side imperial and colonial troops and volunteers, in the Anglo Boer War, continuing to function as Mashonaland and Matabeleland forces until their merger in 1903.  

The outbreak of hostilities during the First World War did not exclude conflict in the Southern African region and the BSA Police participated in actions against Germany's colonial interests in the Caprivi Strip (then part of German West Africa, and in East Africa (Tanzania) for which the force received its only Battle Honour.

The BSA Police functioned more as a civilian police force between the wars, but remained structured in a military form.  The force contributed manpower to campaigns during the Second World War, after which it went through change recommended by the Mundy Commission.  The post war years saw the introduction of a third, Midlands Provincial Command and the Federal era, which brought together the Southern and Northern Rhodesian territories with Nyasaland.   Their police forces remained intact.

At the close of 1963 the Federation was dissolved and there followed a further turbulent period in the history of Rhodesia with the rise of African Nationalism.  This, in conjunction with the advent of the first terrorist attacks in Rhodesia, the 1964 declaration of a State of Emergency in the country, the banning of Nationalist parties, and the 1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence changed the character of the BSA Police compelling it back to its military roots.

There followed a protracted civil war between Nationalist (communist aligned and sponsored) insurgents from two main camps split along tribal and ideological lines, the Zimbabwe National Liberation Army (ZANLA - mostly Shona oriented) and the Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA - mostly Matabele).    The evolving conflict saw the BSA Police's engagement in full counter-insurgency operations alongside the military in all operational spheres, next to its civilian policing role. 

Rhodesia changed its political face, becoming a Republic with a titular President in 1970, and, as the war escalated, so did the persona of the BSA Police transform yet further.  It experienced expansion to service its obligations in the war including the introduction of National Service policemen, a much increased Support Unit establishment, and larger Special Branch and Ground Coverage operations.  The opening of defined operational areas commanded by joint police and military presences was a significant aspect of the force's history.

Abandoned by their sole ally, South Africa, Rhodesia's white politicians eventually capitulated under British and American pressure to the concept of majority rule resulting in the birth of a short lived regime called Zimbabwe-Rhodesia with its first black Prime Minister.  The new order never received acceptance within the international community, thus forcing the new regime to British sponsored all party talks at Lancaster House, culminating in the return of British rule and eventually Zimbabwean independence from Britain.

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Chronology

This abbreviated history of the BSA Police is in the form of a time line or chronology.

Date Event
21-May-1884 Bechuanaland Territories declared a British Protectorate
01-Jul-1884 Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP) formed
04-Aug-1885 Bechuanaland Border Police (BBP) founded (a forerunner of the BSA Police)
 

British South Africa
29-Oct-1889 Royal Charter authorizes the formation of the British South Africa Company's Police, which absorbed elements of the BBP, with responsibilities to protect and police Mashonaland
01-Jan-1890 BSA Company signs contract with Frank Johnson for occupation of Mashonaland and resulting in the formation of the Pioneer Column
06-May-1890 Pioneer Column sets off from Kenilworth, Kimberly destined for Macloutsie
28-Jun-1890 Police and Pioneer Forces leave Macloutsie for the occupation of Mashonaland
01-Jul-1890 Pioneers reach the Shashi River and establish Fort Tuli
10-Jul-1890 Lieut.  Col.  EG Pennefather commanded the advance column of Pioneers and BSAC Police towards Mashonaland
12-Sep-1890 Pioneer Column reaches their destination and establish Fort Salisbury in Mashonaland
01-Oct-1890 Disbandment of the Pioneer Column
11-May-1891 Portuguese occupation of Macequece (Massikessi) driven back by BSAC Police elements
11-Jun-1891 Anglo-Portuguese Treaty signed
Jan-1892 Establishment of Mashonaland Mounted Police (MMP - a forerunner of the BSA Police)
1893 Formation of the Matabeleland Mounted Police (also a forerunner of the BSA Police)
18-Jul-1893 Matabele raids against Shona tribes people into Fort Victoria area leading to the "Lendy Incident" and, consequently, Matabele War
03-Oct-1893 Commencement of the Matabele War
24-Oct-1893 "Battle of Shangani"
1-Nov-1893 "Battle of Bembezi" - defeat of Matabele army
04-Nov-1893 BSA Company forces occupy Bulawayo
Dec-1893 Matabele War comes to an end
04-Dec-1893 Last stand of Major Allan Wilson against the Matabele on the Shangani River
1894 Matabeleland Native Police formed and placed under the control of "Native Commissioners"
18-Jul-1894 BSA Company's jurisdiction over Matabeleland confirmed by Order in Council and the boundaries of Rhodesia were set down
03-May-1895 British South Africa Company's territories formally named Rhodesia
29-Dec-1895 Dr Leander Jameson launches Raid into Transvaal with 500 BSAC police from Pitsani and Mafeking
02-Jan-1896 "Battle of Doornkop" at which Dr Jameson surrenders, was arrest and interned in Johannesburg with surviving elements of the raid
22-Mar-1896 Matabele Rebellion commences - 141 settlers murdered
1-Apr-1896 Bechuanaland Border Police renamed as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP)
14-Jun-1896 Mashona Rebellion breaks out - 119 settlers murdered
01-Oct-1896 The Matabeleland and Mashonaland Mounted Police forces amalgamated to form the Rhodesian Mounted Police
22-Oct-1896 Matabele Rebellion settled through negotiation with rebellion Chiefs
29-Dec-1896 Fixed establishment set for Matabeleland and Mashonaland Divisions of the force, which became known as the British South Africa Police, under the control of Colonel Sir Richard Martin
29-Dec-1896 Lt. Colonel JS Nicholson assumes command of Matabeleland Division and Lt. Colonel the Honourable FRWE de Moleyns, DSO, assumes command of Mashonaland Division
2-Aug-1897 Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP) becomes the BSAP No.1 (Bechuanaland Division)
27-Oct-1897 Mashona Rebellion quelled
12-Oct-1899 Anglo-Boer War Starts
17-May-1900 Relief of Mafeking involving elements of BSA Police predecessor forces
22-Jan-1901 Death of Queen Victoria
26-Mar-1902 Death of Mr.  Cecil John Rhodes
31-May-1902 Boer Surrender, the Treaty of Vereeniging, signed at Pretoria
1903 Matabeleland and Mashonaland Divisions united under one command in terms of Police Ordinance of 1903
11-Mar-1903 BSAP No.1 (Bechuanaland) Division ceases to exist becoming the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police (BPP)
Oct-1903 Lt.  Col.  William Bodle appointed Commissioner of Police
1903 Bechuanaland Division of the BSA Police abolished
01-Oct-1903 First Commandant Depot, Sub-Inspector H Chapman, appointed on amalgamation of Mashonaland and Matabele Divisions
05-Oct-1903 Commandant General orders 11 separate and complete Troops, of which one is a Depot Troop to which all recruits would be posted, and perceived to be the birth of Morris Depot
1907 First Fingerprint Bureau established in Rhodesia
01-Jan-1908 African Police training camp established on the site of what was to become Tomlinson Depot after moving from Lorelie Farm, east of Salisbury
1909 Control of the BSA Police transferred to the Imperial Government under the control of one Commissioner of Police
1909 Lt.  Col.  J H Fuller appointed Commissioner of Police
1911 Maj.  Gordon Vallancy Drury appointed Commissioner of Police
1913 Criminal Investigation Department established
2-Nov-1913 Maj.  Gen Sir AHM Edwards appointed Commissioner of Police
Apr-1913 District Police were organised into Regimental troops (mounted), later found to be unsuitable
Apr-1913 The country was divided into six police districts, coinciding with magisterial districts
1914 Chief Supt.  Joseph C Brundell (1142) becomes first Officer Commanding Criminal Investigation Department
04-Aug-1914 Great Britain declares war on Germany
21-Sep-1914 Occupation of the German civil post of Schuckmannsburg, Caprivi Strip, German West Africa, by elements of BSA Police
12-Aug-1915 Formation of first BSA Police Infantry Company, "A" Company, for service in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland border with German East Africa
17-Aug-1915 Departure BSA Police Infantry "A" Company to the North
01-Feb-1923 Col.  Essex Capell appointed Commissioner of Police
 


Southern Rhodesia
12-Sep-1923 Government by the Chartered Company dissolved and Southern Rhodesia annexed to Great Britain and Sir John Chancellor appointed Governor. 
01-Oct-1923 Responsible Government established in Southern Rhodesia and Sir Charles Coghlan appointed first Premier
13-May-1926 Col.  George Stops appointed Commissioner of Police
13-Feb-1933 Col.  John S Morris appointed Commissioner of Police
1936 Col.  JS Morris, Commissioner of Police, appointed Commanding Officer of all Southern Rhodesian Forces
01-Aug-1939 Police Reserve formed in terms of the Defence Act 1926 and Major HH Rochester (855) appointed Officer Commanding Police Reserve
1941 Women's Auxiliary Police Service formed
Jul-1941 Elements BSA Police sent to North Africa and the Middle East for service in Abyssinia and Eritrea; and Cyrenaica and Tripolitania
05-Jul-1941 Kum-A-Kye accepted as the Regimental March of the BSA Police
24-Apr-1945 Brigadier John Ross appointed Commissioner of Police
1945 Mundy Commission makes recommendation for improvement of the BSA Police
1948 Police Dog Section introduced
1948 Expansion of the Police Reserve into two sections, an A Reserve and B Reserve
1949 Colony divided into provinces Mashonaland, Matabeleland and Midlands for administration of policing
7-Dec-1950 Col.  James Appleby (2123) appointed Commissioner of Police
 


The Federal Era
1953 Federal Intelligence and Security Bureau (FISB) formed under the directorship of Basil “Bob” de Quehen (3136), a former member of the force
1953 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland comprising the two Rhodesia's and Nyasaland formed
Aug-1953 Elements of BSA Police deployed to Nyasaland to assist with the quelling of nationalist disturbances
1954 Col.  Arthur S Hickman (2622) appointed Commissioner of Police
1954 Establishment of the Police C Reserve, known as the Field Reserve
12-Feb-1954 HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, becomes Honorary Commissioner of the BSA Police force. 
6-Nov-1955 Col.  Harold Jackson (2853) appointed Commissioner of Police
1957 Police Reserve Airwing Formed
12-Sep-1957 Southern Rhodesian African National Congress (ANC) formed
13-Mar-1958 Mr.  Basil G Spurling (3100) appointed Commissioner of Police
1959 The Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters moves from Bulawayo to Salisbury to premises within Morris Depot. 
25-Feb-1959 Banning of ANC and launch of Operation Spider, the arrests and detention of 500 leading nationalists
1960 Establishment of the Special Police Reserve
1960 Women Field Reserve force established
12-Sep-1960 Freedom of the City of Salisbury conferred on the British South Africa Police
20-Sep-1962 Banning of Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU)
02-Jan-1963 Police Forensic Science Laboratory established in Salisbury
26-Apr-1963 Mr.  Frank Barfoot (3342) appointed Commissioner of Police
Aug-1963 Seeds sewn for the formation of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) under the pseudonym of "The Department of the Prime Minister" with the impending break-up of the Federation. 
Aug-1963 Ken Flower (3654), a member of the BSA Police force (served as Deputy Commissioner until 1967), appointed to form and nominated to be first Director General of CIO
08-Aug-1963 Zimbabwe African Nationalist Union (ZANU) formed by Ndabaningi Sithole
12-Sep-1963 Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), referred to as the PM's Department, formed under instruction of Prime Minister Winston Field
Oct-1963 Prime Ministerial Mandate signed by Mr Winston Field creating the Central Intelligence Organisation including the creation of the BSA Police Special Branch (also known as Branch I - Internal)
31-Dec-1963 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved
1964 Formation of Volunteer Additional Force (VAT) police anti-terrorist units, comprising Regular and Reserve police, known then as the "Sinoia Commandos"
4-Jul-1964 Nationalist insurgents set up a crude road block in Melsetter area and stab Petros Oberholtzer to death in their first offensive action in the country.
26-Aug-1964 State of Emergency declared and Zimbabwe African Nationalist Union (ZANU) banned
 


The UDI Period
11-Nov-1965 Unilateral Declaration of Independence
29-Apr-1966 "The Battle of Sinoia" - first major incursions of Nationalist terrorists countered on the Angwa River outside Sinoia
18-May-1966 The Viljoen Murders by Nationalist terrorists at Nevada Farm in the Hartley Area
01-Aug-1966 Formation of Police Anti Terrorist Unit (PATU) under Superintendent Bill Bailey (3333) based on principles of Volunteer Additional Training
1967 South African Police sent to assist Rhodesian forces
3-Jan-1968 Mr.  James Spink (3743) appointed Commissioner of Police
 


The Rhodesian Republic
02-Mar-1970 Rhodesia declares itself a Republic
27-Jun-1970 Mr.  Sydney Bristow (3844) appointed Commissioner of Police
1971 Women's A Reserve formed to perform normal police duties in line with their A Reserve male colleagues
01-Dec-1972 Operation Hurricane, Joint Operations Command (JOC) Bindura, commences joint force operations against Zimbabwe African Nationalist Liberation Army (ZANLA) elements in the north eastern, mostly Mashonaland Province, area
21-Dec-1972 Attack on Altena Farm, Centenary introduces a new phase of the ZANLA offensive
Jul-1973 First intake of 42 National Service Patrol Officers commence training at Morris Depot, Salisbury
06-Feb-1974 Mr.  Peter Sherren (3862) appointed Commissioner of Police
01-Feb-1976 Operation Thrasher, JOC Umtali, commences joint force operations again ZANLA terrorists in the Manicaland Province
01-Feb-1976 Operation Repulse, JOC Fort Victoria, commences joint anti terrorist operations in the south east of the country, mostly in Victoria Province
01-Aug-1976 Operation Tangent, JOC Bulawayo, to combat the Zimbabwe Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) offensive mostly in Matabeleland commences operations
01-Sep-1976 91 Members of the African police promoted to the previously exclusive European ranks in a programme of black advancement
01-Aug-1977 Operation Grapple, JOC Gwelo, commences to combat both ZIPRA and ZANLA elements in the central Rhodesian province of Midlands
06-Feb-1978 Mr.  Peter Allum (3939) appointed Commissioner of Police
03-Mar-1978 Internal agreement of the "Salisbury Four" - Chirau, Muzorewa, Sithole and Smith
21-Mar-1978 Transitional Government comes to power out of the Internal multi-party agreement of the "Salisbury Four"
01-Jun-1978 Operation Splinter, JOC Kariba, commences to combat waterborne infiltration into Zimbabwe-Rhodesia via Lake Kariba out of Zambia
3-Sep-1978 Air Rhodesia civilian aircraft, Hunyani, shot down by terrorist missile and survivors murdered
12-Feb-1979 Second civilian aircraft, Umniati, shot down killing all on board
 


The Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Period
20-May-1979 Zimbabwe-Rhodesia declared a Republic
01-Jun-1979 Abel Muzorewa assumes office as the first black Prime Minister of newly named Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
10-Sep-1979 Lancaster House Constitutional talks conference open in London, United Kingdom
02-Dec-1979 Lancaster House Constitutional talks concluded with agreement between the parties paving the way to all party majority rule elections and a ceasefire
 


Resumption of British Rule
12-Dec-1979 Lord Soames arrives in Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, to resume control as British Governor General of Rhodesia
15-Dec-1979 Ceasefire Agreement signed between the conflicting factions
21-Dec-1979 Formal signing of the Lancaster House Agreement, restoring Rhodesia to "legality"
10-Feb-1980 Robert Mugabe survives assassination attempt at Fort Victoria
27-Feb-1980 First "Majority Rule", all party General Elections commence and run over a period of five days
18-Apr-1980 The newly named Zimbabwe achieves and celebrates its Independence
31-Jul-1980 Cessation of the British South Africa Police and inauguration of its successor, the Zimbabwe Republic Police

 

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Geography

Structure - Circa 1903

The amalgamation of the various forces into a combined force in based on the Commandant General's Orders of 5 October 1903 defined the structure of the new BSA Police at that time.   The force was to be commanded by a Commandant, two Chief Inspectors in command of Divisions, Inspector and Sub-Inspectors.    Magisterial Districts were provided as the general geographic divisions of territories and there was the creation of 11 Troops, one per District.

Mashonaland Division

  • "A" Troop - Salisbury (with Headquarter element)
  • "B" Troop - Goromonzi
  • "C" Troop - Sinoia
  • "D" Troop - Umtali
  • "E" Troop - Depot
  • "F" Troop - Fort Victoria

Matabeleland Division

  • "G" Troop - Gwanda
  • "H" Troop - Gwelo
  • "J" Troop - Filabuzi
  • "K" Troop - Bulawayo
  • "L" Troop - Fort Usher

Structure - Circa 1911

The apparent rapid expansion of the force in just 8 years is evidenced by the larger number of stations and men attached to the basic Troop structure established in 1903.   It appears that in the process "J" Troop - Filabuzi was merged into "G" Troop.

Mashonaland Division

  • "A" Troop - Salisbury (with Headquarter element)
  • "B" Troop – Abercorn; Darwin; Goromonzi; Kimberley Reefs; Marandellas; Mazoe; Mrewa; Mtoko;
  • "C" Troop – Battlefields; Gadzema; Gatooma; Hartley; Kanyemba; Sinoia; Sipolilo;
  • "D" Troop – Chipinga; Inyanga; Melsetter; Odzi; Penhalonga; Rusape; Umtali;
  • "E" Troop – Depot, Salisbury;
  • "F" Troop – Chibi; Chilimanzi; Fort Victoria; Gutu; Ndanga

Matabeleland Division

  • "G" Troop – Belingwe; Filabuzi; Fort Rixon; Gwanda; Tuli; West Nicholson;
  • "H" Troop – Enkeldoorn; Gwelo; Que Que; Selukwe; Umvuma
  • "K" Troop – Bulawayo; Essexvale; Inyati; Nyamandhlovu; Umzingwane; Victoria Falls; Wankie
  • "L" Troop – Figtree; Fort Usher; Holi; Madabis; Mphoengs; Plumtree

Structure - Circa 1975

The geographic layout of the force's Provincial and District Command (circa 1975) was based on the national Provincial boundaries and Magisterial District boundaries.    A Province was normally commanded by a Senior Assistant Commissioner (generally with an Assistant Commissioner,  except in the case of the two larger Provinces, Mashonaland and Matabeleland, where two Assistant Commissioners were in support of command).   The Criminal Investigation Department and Special Branch Provinces were commanded by Assistant Commissioners (the Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer - PCIO) from the CID and in the smaller Provinces the position of Provincial Special Branch Officer (PSBO) was combined with that of the PCIO.   Districts were generally commanded by Chief Superintendents. 


Manicaland Province: (Headquarters based at Umtali in Rhodesia's Eastern Highlands - ZEF4)

  • Chipinga District: Cashel(ZEF402); Chipinga(ZEF406); Chisumbanji(ZEF413); Melsetter(ZEF403); Nyanyadzi(ZEF410); Nyashanu(ZEF414);
  • Rusape District: Headlands(ZEF409); Inyanga(ZEF401); Inyazura(ZEF408); Mayo(ZEF411); Rusape(ZEF407);
  • Umtali Urban District: Umtali Central; Sakubva
  • Umtali Rural District: Buhera(ZEF412); Odzi(ZEF404); Penhalonga(ZEF405); Sakubva(ZEF416); Umtali - Rural(ZEF415). 

Mashonaland Province: (Headquarter based at Salisbury - ZEF2)



Miami Charge Office 1954: Photo courtesy Cliff Rogers (4735)

  • Bindura District:
  • Lomagundi District (Headquarters in Sinoia)
  • Marandellas District:
     


Mount Darwin Charge Office (circa 1951): Photo courtesy Cliff Rogers (4753)

Matabeleland Province: (Headquarters based at Bulawayo - ZEF3)


Kezi Charge Office (circa 1954): Picture courtesy Fred Punter (4853)

  • Bulawayo Central District
  • Bulawayo Suburban District
  • Bulawayo West District
  • Bulawayo Rural District
  • Wankie District
  • Gwanda District

Midlands Province: (ZEF6) (Headquarters based at Gwelo)


Que Que District Headquarters: Picture Outpost Sept 1973

  • Gwelo Urban District
  • Gwelo Rural District
  • Que Que District
  • Gatooma District
  • Shabani District

Salisbury Province:

  • Salisbury Central
  • Salisbury South
  • Salisbury Suburban

Victoria Province: (Headquarters in Fort Victoria ZEF7)


Victoria Provincial Head Office (1968): Picture Courtesy Bill Birch (5211)

  • Fort Victoria District: Bikita (ZEF703); Chatsworth (ZEF704); Chibi - original “F” Troop Station (ZEF701); Chilimanzi - “F” Troop (ZEF704); Fort Victoria - Rural ; Fort Victoria (Victoria) - “F” Troop (ZEF7); Gutu - “F” Troop(ZEF706); Mashaba (ZEF705); Zaka (ZEF707);
  • Chiredzi District: Chiredzi (ZEF710); Nuanetsi (ZEF702); Rutenga (ZEF711); Triangle (ZEF708); Vila Salazar (ZEF709).

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Force Branch Structure

BSA Police General Headquarters (PGHQ)

  • Deputy Commissioner (Administration) commanded several sections within PGHQ including:
    • Administration
    • Finance
    • Personnel
    • Press Liaison
    • Quartermaster's Section
      • Armaments
      • Ordnance Stores
      • Pioneers (building and construction)
      • Printers
      • Saddlers
      • Tailors
    • Signals
    • Sport
    • Transport
    • Recruiting
    • Welfare
  • Deputy Commissioner (Crime and Security) was responsible for all matters handled by:
    • Criminal Investigation Department
    • Duty Uniform Branch under the control of a Chief Staff Officer (Police) who oversaw:
      • Duty Uniform Operations
      • Police Reserve
    • Special Branch (Internal) although Officer Commanding Special Branch also had the title the Director Internal (DIN) Branch 1 and reported to the Director General (DG) of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). 

Criminal Investigation Department

  • Headquarters Section
    • Forensic Science Laboratory
    • Central Criminal Bureau (Fingerprint Bureau)
    • Criminal Records Office
    • Firearms Registry
    • Deportations Section
    • Scenes of Crime Examination Section (Photographic Sections at major CID Stations)
    • Questioned Document Examiner
  • Crimes of Violence
  • Immigration Section (until 1954)
  • Property Section
  • Illicit Gold Dealing Section
  • Drug Section
  • Fraud Section

Duty Uniform Branch

  • Cadet Branch
  • Dog Section
  • Sub-Aqua Section
  • Urban and District police stations

Police Reserve

  • Police Reserve Air Wing
  • "A" Reserve
  • "B" Reserve
  • "C" - Field - Reserve
  • Special Constabulary

Special Branch (Branch 1 Internal)

  • European/Counter Intelligence Desk
  • Nationalist Desk
  • Projects Section
  • Technical
  • Terrorist Desk
  • Trade Union Desk

Support Unit Branch

Technicians Branch

  • Armourers
  • Pioneers
  • Printers
  • Saddlers
  • Signals Section
    • Provincial Signals (SIGPROV) Radio Stations (ZEF1 - ZEF9)
    • Provincial and District Radio Workshops
  • Farriers
  • Tailors

Traffic Branch

  • Police Driving School (was also in the domain of the Training Branch at some time)
  • Highway Patrol
  • Station Level Traffic Sections (larger stations only)

Training Branch

  • Tomlinson Depot
    • Police Band
  • Morris Depot
    • Armoury Section
    • Ballistics Section
    • Musketry Section
    • Provost Section

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Battle Honour

 East Africa: 1915-18 - The Regiment was conferred with the honour “E.Africa 1915-18”  by King George V on 4 May 1925 for the Regiment's services in World War I.   This was allowed as elements of the Regiment had fought in that conflict as a complete unit of battalion strength. 

There is no evidence to show that an honour was bestowed on the Regiment for their services in the Anglo Boer War.   No doubt one was earned, but the regulations of the time did not allow the force to have battle honour as they did not operate as a complete unit in that conflict.

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Campaigns
 

The BSA Police and its predecessor forces took part in a number of campaigns in their capacity as a military regiment and later as a police force in the true sense and as the country's first line of defence, including:


Matabele War 1893

There is doubt as whether the predecessor forces of the BSA Police had  any official role in the Matabele War, but evidently a good number of attested men did in their personal capacity, including officers and ranks.  The Matabele War, as it came to be known, was sparked off by what was to be called the "Lendy Affair" during which two Matabele impis (forces, ranging in size, deploy for a specific purpose), were sent by Matabele King, Lobengula (1836-1894), to punish Chief Gomalla's people for the theft of telegraph cables, which had resulted in the mistaken impounding of the King's cattle as punishment by settlers.

The invading impi had refused to cease their slaughtering of Shona tribes people in the immediate vicinity of Fort Victoria, claiming Matabele sovereignty over Mashonaland, in the name of the King.   Skirmishes followed between a Mashonaland Mounted Police (MMP) force led by Lendy and an impi on 18th July in the area of the Shashe River, which flows into the Tokwe (not to be mistaken with the Shashe River near Fort Tuli) just north-west of Fort Victoria, .  These resulted in the deaths of some 30 Matabele warriors at Magamoli's Kraal.  Thus, in reacting to the cable theft, Lobengula had played into the hands of the white settlers of Mashonaland and the occupation of Matabeleland quickly became a conquest ambition of Dr Leander Jameson. 

It took Jameson three months to put together an invading force, drawn from volunteers and former members of the MMP, many of whom were laid off at Jameson's instigation, to save BSA Company funds.  Cecil Rhodes, at first reluctant to participate in such a gamble, eventually backed Jameson's war aspirations and financed the occupation.  Two columns were quickly put together, one from Fort Victoria and the other from Fort Salisbury.   As the storm gathered, the Imperial Government was persuaded into believing that a Matabele invasion of Mashonaland was imminent and decided to send its own invasion column comprising Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP) and the Raaff Rangers to Matabeleland.   Raaffs Rangers met with the BMP force at Macloutsie, but before this had travelled from the Rand, in the Boer Republic via Fort Tuli to attest into the now almost disbanded BSA Company Police.   Two forces were thus thrust into a race to hoist their flags in Gubulawayo. 

The Fort Salisbury Column, led by Major Patrick Forbes, an MMP Officer (or recently retired there-from) met up with the Fort Victoria Column, under the command of Major Allan Wilson, at Iron Mine Hill before advancing towards Bulawayo.  There followed two battles, one in which Jameson's forces clashed with Matabele amabuto (regiments) numbering some 6000 during the night of 24 October when they attacked the column in the ensuing "Battle of Shangani" near the river of that name.   The attack was fought off with the Matabele suffering large numbers of casualties.   They had made a fatal error in their offensive, attacking at night and doing so when the column was already in laager.   The nocturnal initiative lost the Matabele their visual communication between regiments, critical for successful light infantry tactics.  Their disastrous experiences of attacking the Boers in laager, 57 years earlier, had obviously faded through generations of military inactivity against white settlers.

A week later Lobengula's regiments engaged in a second attack against the column in the "Battle of Bembezi" (1 November) which saw  the ultimate defeat of the Matabele, sadly, with great loss of life to Lobengula's force.   This battle remains an unexplained tactical calamity for the Matabele army.   Lobengula had instructed his induna amabuto (regimental commanders) to allow the two columns to commence the crossing of the Umguza River, before launching any further offensive.  The Umguza was a difficult river to cross on account of its steep, boulder strewn, banks and such crossing could only be done out of laager.  The river was also within quick range of his reserve regiments. 

Apparent disunity within the Matabele force, arising from accusations of cowardice arising from the previous battle, a change in leadership to senior indunas who had not experienced the Shangani confrontation and the fact that the two columns were an inviting "sitting duck" may have lead to the premature attack.   The Matabele outnumbered the column in manpower (6000 to 700) and firearms (2000 to 700).    The column laagered at midday and sent their draft animals to forage and be watered to the south.   The Matabele army was sighted on a rise, in full force, about 2 kilometres away, by the column, but well within 7 pounder artillery range.  They were fired upon and as shells burst about the amabuto the decision was made to their launch the attack proper.  Pure numbers are no match for firepower.  The maxim machine gun created havoc so great for the Matabele regiments, many perished, and remnant attackers were forced to flee with mounted infantry hard on their heals.   Thus the Matabele army saw its death's knell.


The Salisbury and Fort Victoria columns marched into Bulawayo on 4 November 1893.  The Imperial column from Bechuanaland was nowhere to be seen.  They had set march on 18 October heading north for Bulawayo and had encounter a minor skirmish with the Matabele near Mphoengs on 2 November.  They finally reached Bulawayo on 15 November, a delay which probably saved the Charter Company's then newly occupied territory being annexed to Imperial Bechuanaland.

King Lobengula had escaped capture and moved north, only to be pursued by Major Allan Wilson's, now famous, Shangani Patrol, which met its eventual fate on the edge of the flood swollen Shangani River.  Seventeen (some source suggest 34) men, surrounded by Lobengula's retreating regiments and against insurmountable odds fought to the end in a legend which was to be embellished by Rhodesians.  King  Lobengula died in the early part of the following year, some suggesting by suicide others by disease.

Before the occupation of Matabeleland a revered Shona spirit medium, Chaminuka, from the Hartley area, had prophesized the occupation by white people, "people with no knees ".  He had been put to death by Lobengula's raiding Imbizo regiment (the King's first regiment) in about 1885 on account of such a treacherous foretelling.

Matabele Rebellion 1896

To some, the Matabele Rebellion was a mere extension of the Matabele War of 1893, being unfinished business for surviving regiments of the Lobengula dynasty, wishing to avenge their King's death, but the cause was a little deeper.  The territory had been ravaged by serious drought, a plague of locusts had prevailed and a rinderpest endemic had seen the Matabele cattle herds devastated.  This, combined with the secular stirrings of Makalanga Mlimo spirit mediums, Mukwati and Mwanbani at Intaba zika Mambo east of Inyati, who promised rain for the blood of the white man, set new ambitions for a then subjugated Matabele nation.  The uprising was premeditated to take advantage of the then scarce presence of police following the Jameson Raid debacle, which had absorbed most of the two mounted police forces. 

Revolution had been intended for the March full moon of 1896, but events were to overtake this following the attack upon a Native Police contingent on 20 March at Umgorshlwini’s Kraal on the Umzingwane River, near Essexvale.  The Native Police were then seen at that time as an arrogant instrument of white oppression.  The violence spread quickly with attacks against unsuspecting whites in Essexvale on 22 March and then to Insiza, further south west of Bulawayo, where many more settlers were killed.  Uncanningly, the rains began to fall, uplifting Matabele faith in their spirit mediums, by the same time creating havoc for the colonisers’, militarily.  The whites withdrew quickly into their Laagers, established in Bulawayo, Gwelo, Mangwe and Belingwe.  Within a matter of days some 140 whites had been massacred. 

Police and voluntary (Bulawayo Field Force) personnel spend much of the earlier part of the campaign with search and rescue operations into the nearby farming and mining locations.  The first Matabele Mounted Police officer killed on active service appears to have been Sergeant John O’Leary who was shot dead at Cummings Store, near Fort Rixon, on 27 March.  Fourteen other policemen died during the ensuing engagements.  On 25 April volunteer forces pursued a tactical change - a mounted rifle assault on the Matabele, placing them on their defensive, perhaps for which they were without tactics, and pushing them back to the Umgusa River to the east of Bulawayo. 

In turn a column under Colonel Napier, which left Bulawayo on 20 May (the delay being to rebuild food and forage supplies) for Gwelo, engaged and defeated a 4000 strong rebel detachment at Thabas Induna two days later.  Shortly before this a relief column of some 600 men from Fort Salisbury engaged with and defeated rebels in the Maven district, near Gwelo.  It is said that news of these defeats had discouraged Matabele Regiments, which had amassed on the Shangani River to prevent the junction of the two columns.  The united force saw no further resistance after the columns had met at Pongo’s Store on 24 May.  The returning force split into three, one moving to the north, another to the south into the, by then, thoroughly pillaged Filabusi district, while the main column proceeded onto Bulawayo.  The Fort Salisbury column had been accompanied by Cecil Rhodes who, despite the inconclusive standoff that was to follow, did not wish to see imperial intervention suppressing the rebellion.

Rhodes was not to have his way; Colonel Sir Richard Martin of the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) Regiment arrived in Rhodesia on 21 May (before Rhodes arrived in Bulawayo) to exert imperial influence in the deteriorating situation.  By 3 June he had been appointed Commandant-General of the Police Force in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, and both Matabeleland and Mashonaland Mounted Forces by a Cape Proclamation.  Sir Richard was to be followed by Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington just two weeks later with a more substantial imperial force from the Cape, including the 7th Hussars Cavalry Regiment and Mounted Infantry Battalion. 

The BSA Company’s efforts to raise a Matabeleland Relief Force in Mafeking was commandeered by the Imperial Government too and Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Plumer (of the 2nd Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment and later to become Field-Marshal Lord Plumer, Baron of Messines and Bilton) was placed in command of this force.  His column, which had been held back by the rinderpest destruction of ox driven draft power and had had to revert to the use of mules which would carry less weight and required grain rather than grass forage for feeding.  Plumer arrived in the territory in late May and was immediately set on the offensive in the Khami area where he defeated rebels in two engagements on 24 May. 


Before contemplating offensive action in the Matopas, where the Matabele Army had embedded itself, Carrington ordered the formation of three columns and despatched one, on 4 June, to the west (Gwaai) under the command of Plumer and a second to the north on 5th June under the command of Captain Macfarlane, who had been active against the Matabele in the early stages of the rebellion.  The third was held back awaiting food supplies, but became embroiled in an action against rebels once more in the Umgusa river area in which a large impi was defeated.  At this time news began to filter in about the Mashonaland uprising and Carrington was force to further delay his Matopas offensive and deploy part of his force immediately to Fort Salisbury.

At about the same time, news came in that Mukwati and a large force had ensconced themselves in at Intaba zika Mambo.  A column under the command of Plumer was despatched on 30 June, but rather than ride in, wagons and all, Plumer decide to walk his men in under cover of darkness and make a surprise, three pronged, combined infantry and cavalry, attack at first light on 5 July.  There are opposing views as to the success of this battle, but BSA Company reports on the rebellion suggest this resulted in the rebel positions being over run, prisoners taken and a large amount of loot being recovered.  The well sought after medium, Mukwati, escaped and headed for the Umfuli area of Mashonaland.

The Matopas mountain range, to the South of Bulawayo was the last bastion of Matabele resistance.  Carrington, confident on the heals of Intaba zika Mambo’s stronghold being captured, sent the largest force he could gather to rout the Matabele from their natural stronghold.  Plumer commanded the main force of some 800 troops and launched his attack in the dark hours of 20 July managing to dislodge enemy forces, but at considerable loss to his own.  A simultaneous attack was launched from the east by Major Laing’s force.  Plumer made a final assault on the eastern Matopas against the Matabele Regiments on 5th August, but with little success. 

Contemporary writers suggest that the Matopas offensive was a failure, which later influenced Carrington to submit to negotiation with the Matabele Chiefs after he realised the impossible nature of a small conventional force overrunning a large, enemy occupied, range of mountainous and bolder strewn territory.  To achieve this, in his estimation, Carrington needed a force far in excess of 5000 troops at his disposal, and they would suffer a high casualty rate most unacceptable to the Imperial power.

The Matabele, by this time, had grown weary of war and were only engaging the enemy when they were forced to do so and thus a stale mate ensued.  Rhodes was asked to open up negotiations with the Matabele Chiefs and on 21 August rode, unarmed, into the Matopas where he met up with the Matabele Inzinduna.  Successive indabas were held on 9 September, and 13 October, at which Sikombo symbolically declared his peace with the breaking of branches.  The Rebellion was officially over by 22 October 1896, which saw the disbandment of Colonel Plumer’s column. 
 


Mashona Rebellion 1896-1897 - The First Shona "Chimurenga"
The Mashona Rebellion came as a surprise to the BSA Company's authority in Fort Salisbury, despite the ongoing Matabele crisis in the west of the country.   The settlers saw the Mashona as a pastoral/hunter people, fragmented with no common organisation, owing allegiance to no single authority and "incapable of planning any combined or premeditated" military action as a nation.   The Mashona comprised a number of autonomous chieftainships spread mostly through the eastern part of the occupied territory which was to become Rhodesia.  They were not respected in any way as a military threat, nor were they organised in any way along the scale of the Matabele regiments, but clearly their cunning and intelligence had been under-rated.

So too had their resentment at being subjugated by their newly imposed rulers who had taken their land, coerced them into the workforce, introduced forms of taxation (hut tax), which they had resisted, and had usurped the authority of their Chiefs .  Evidently, the same problems that afflicted the Matabele, rinderpest, drought and locusts, played a role.  These issues formed the, anti-white/settler, secular melting pot of the spirit mediums.   It is no co-incidence that Muwkati, who had escaped arrest at Intaba zika Mambo, found his way to Chief Matshayangombi's kraal, near Hartley, the hot bed of the rebellion in Mashonaland.   The Hartley area, too, was the home of the late oracle Chaminuka and was the then abode of the spirit medium Kaguvi, "the Mondoro" or Gumbareshumba, "The Lion's Paw", who originated from Chief Chikwakwa's area (Goromonzi).   It is common knowledge that the mediums also sought to re-establish the powerful Rozwi monarchy (which had succumbed in 1834), an accomplishment that would have, perhaps, unified the Shona.

The stage was set for a bloody uprising and thus on 15 June 1896 news of two prospectors, Tate and Koefoet, who were captured, bound hand and foot, and thrown to the crocodiles in the Umfuli River, filtered into Salisbury.  A Native Commissioner, Moonie, was slaughtered at a kraal in the Hartley District on the same day.  The following day Norton's Porta Farm was attacked and his entire family was slaughtered along with two employees.   During the ensuing months some 119 settlers were murdered and attacks took place on isolate mines and farms mostly in a broad crescent running rapidly through from Hartley in the West, north to Mazoe and east to Makoni's area.  The Karanga Chiefs in the Victoria region were notable by their lack on involvement in the rebellion, as were Chief Mutasa's people who remain neutral throughout.

The white population followed the example of their beleaguered Bulawayo folk and went into laagers established at Forts Salisbury and Charter and later at Umtali, Fort Victoria and even Melsetter.  A pattern of rescuing settlers in the outlining areas, followed by mounted infantry resistance to the rebellion, as utilised in Matabeleland, was to pursue.  The laager established at Hartley was attacked on the 18th June by rebels emanating from Matshayangombi's Kraal during which it was apparent that Matabele warriors had taken part.   On the same day miners at Alice Mine had sent a desperate message to Fort Salisbury seeking relief after being attacked and besieged by rebels.   More farm murders took place in the Charter district, mostly of Boer farmers who had settled in the area. 

Nesbitt's now famous "Mazoe Patrol" reached the laager at Alice Mine on the 20th June and secured the relief of survivors against incredible odds, an action which resulted in his award of the Victoria Cross.  Herbert Eyre and Trooper Arthur Young of the MMP were murdered on 21 June in Umvukwes.  Across to the east Chief Makoni's people launched attacks on a laager established at Headlands, which had to be abandoned, the occupants who eventually made their way to Umtali.   Clearly, the rebel campaign was a concerted one, but notably lacking in the conventional military strategies of the Matabele.  A less conventional hit and run, guerrilla war offensive which suited the Shona domain had evolved.

On 25 June two Mounted Infantry companies under the command of Colonel Edwin AH Alderson of the Royal West Kent Regiment had arrived in Beira, originally destined for Matabeleland.   These companies were diverted to the Mashonaland crisis where they pursued a "commando" styled mounted campaign (which appears to have it roots in southern Africa) against rebel strongholds, relieving them of their grain and cattle.   Aldeson's Mounted Infantry initiative was described as "highly mobile and pugnatious"  comprising brisk scorched earth forays intent on destroying pockets of rebel resistance and capturing their grain supplies and livestock, obviously aimed at bringing their logistical support structure crashing down.  

One of Alderson's first major offensives, with two companies of Mounted Infantry, was against Makoni's Kraal on 3 August - he established Fort Haynes in the process.   Makoni was only captured on 4 September, during a second raid, tried by Court Martial, and summarily executed by firing squad, an act which was not without its controversy.   Gatsi and Mangwende faced his force's wrath between 10 and 16 August.   A major skirmish took place at Simbanoot's Kraal between 8 and 14 September and Alderson ventured against Matshayangombi's fortress on 5 October, but it is doubtful that that stronghold was taken successfully.   There followed offensives against Chiefs Mapondera, Gatsi, Chikwakwa and Tandi's Kraals during the ensuing month. 

Inadvertently, the Mashona Rebellion had significant impact on the re-formation of the police force in the territory, seriously depleted by Jameson's raid, and following mounted infantry initiative during the first five months of the campaign, the entire initiative was placed in the hands of an almost newly recruited police force.  Alderson had been criticised because no "thorough punishment" had been inflicted on the rebels, those responsible for brutal murders had not been arrested, nor had the rebel chiefs, except for Makoni, been deposed or brought to justice.   On 1 October the Mashonaland and Matabeleland Mounted Police forces came under the auspices of the Rhodesian Mounted Police and a serious recruiting programme followed.   By the end of December establishments had been set and the force became known as the British South Africa Police.   Lt. Colonel the Honourable FRWE de Moleyns, DSO took over from Alderson on 12 December.

Alderson left the territory on Christmas eve 1896 destined for Durban, with Carrington, leaving control of the police in the hands of Colonel Sir Richard Martin and the police force as the territory's "first line of defence".  Strategy changed too.   The new offensive concentrated on the establishment of forts in those areas where rebellion still festered, rather than along principal communication routes.  Fort Martin was established near Matshayangombi's Kraal and  Fort Harding was set up near Chikwakwa's Kraal amongst others.   The tactic of using dynamite to blast cave fugitives into submission is increasingly evident.  In January police elements raided Manyese's Kraal, Sekki's Kraal was overun and a Fort was established at Gondo's Kraal, which was assaulted on 16 February.   Chinamora and Makombi's Kraals suffered similar fates on 1 March.

In early March there was an extraordinary expedition sent to the north east, into the Mtoko area, to establish ties with Chief Gurupila of a sub-tribe called the Budjga who were apparently in conflict their Shona neighbours.   It was considered that Gurupila could join forces with the colonial forces and help with bringing the rebellion to a close.  Gurupila did in fact join forces with the expedition and provided some 500 men on the occasions, but the combined force was enveloped in a Shona offensive between the Inyagui and Nyadiri rivers and half Gurupila's men deserted.   The following day an unsuccessful attack by the force on Chief Shauangwe's Kraal saw the sudden demise of Gurupila and the rest of his men deserted.   Most of the expedition's member fell victim to fever and eventually had to be rescued.

On 17 March Matshayangombi launched an attack on Fort Martin (in the Charge of Captain Nesbitt), but was beaten off after a fierce three hour battle.  On 1 April Chief Umzililemi apparently surrendered in the Charter area, but at Svosve, in the same area, rebels attacked a patrol resulting in raids on several kraals that were relieved of their food supplies.   A Fort was established at Lomagunda as the police influence spread.   Kunzwi's Kraal was attack on 19 June as was Mashanganika's Kraal. 

On 24 July there had been a decisive attack on Matshayangombi's Kraal conducted by the police, ably assisted by the 7 Hussars troop, left in the country after Alderson's departure.  During this offensive the Chief was killed, although some sources indicate he may have escaped with Kaguvi and Mukwati who travelled to the Makoli Mountains, then Chipolilo and eventually sought refuge with Mbuya Nehanda, a powerful and influential female medium in the Mazoe Valley.   Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana, as she was known, was considered to be the female incarnation of the oracle spirit Nyamhika Nehanda (daughter of Motota the first Monomatapa).  Her role in the rebellion was significant, if not more so, than that of Mukwati and Kaguvi, "blooding her spear" when she ordered the killing of Pollard, a Native Commissioner.  He had been resented by her people for having thrashed Chief Chiweshe who had failed to report an outbreak of Rinderpest.

Chief Zvimba surrendered on 21 August as did Chief Mangwende, of Mrewa, on 2 September, he being the last significant Chief to succumb to the authorities during the rebellion.  The spirit medium Kagubi also eventually surrendered to the Native Commissioner at Mazoe on 27 October 1897.  He had attempted to influence Mbuya Nehanda to surrender with him, but she refused.   She was arrested before the year was out.   What became of of Mukwati is uncertain, but there is reference to his having been murdered by the Shona during the latter course of the rebellion.  Kaguvi's arrest marked the end of the rebellion, and for his part he faced trial with his sister medium in 1898, both were sentenced to death by hanging.  And so ended what the Shona regard as their first Chimurenga.

South Africa: 1900-02 - Anglo Boer War

Just two years after settling the Mashona Rebellion the predecessor forces were drawn into conflict yet again, this time with the Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. This was not the first skirmish into Boer territory by elements of the BSA Company’s police force, indeed the ill-fated Jameson Raid into the Transvaal is seen by many contemporary historians as the first action of the Boer War, if not a catalyst. At the turn of the century, British imperialist ambitions were towards the Boer Republics urged on by the plight of the Uitlanders, a large contingent of foreign labour and expertise ensconced in mining development on the Rand in the heart of Boer territory, and a scourge to the Boers. Jameson’s raid into the Transvaal had supposedly been in support of the Uitlanders, who were expected to arise against the Boers, but when the raiding party galloped into the outskirts of Johannesburg, the Boer Army was waiting for them and the Uitlanders were no where to be seen.

British interests in Southern Africa had encircled the Boer Republics, there was a serious clash between the Boers and Britain’s imperialist intentions towards these Republics. The foreign, and often unacceptable, culture of the growing, mostly British, Uitlander population to the Afrikaaner people and the concurrent build up of military hardware, and eventually military forces in the region, by both the British and the Boers was a certain recipe for a quarrel between the two, the second such conflict within a decade. Orange Free State President, Marthinus Steyn, brought the antagonist parties together in Bloemfontein, but due to the intransigence of Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner and Governor of the Cape Colony, they failed to make any concessions.

By September the Transvaal Boers threw in the towel with diplomacy, and the Orange Free State committed its destiny to that of the Transvaal. The Boers issued an ultimatum to the British on 9 September 1899 to withdraw her forces back to the coast, divert those on the seas destined for South Africa, and insisted that no favourable response from the British would be tantamount to a declaration of war. On 11 October Boer commandos crossed frontiers into Natal and the Cape, three days later they were laying siege to Colonel Robert Kekewich’s force at Kimberley and Robert Baden-Powell’s at Mafeking, they drew the British into the Battles of Talana (20 October); Elandslaagte (21 October); and Reitfontein (24 October); and overcame British forces in Ladysmith by 30 October.

Before the outbreak of war, there had been a mobilisation of forces in Rhodesia, in anticipation of an offensive by the Boer Republics. On 25 July regulations pertaining to the launch of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers had been published in Bulawayo and by 4 August Sergeant Robert McGee of the Matabeleland Division police had been despatch with a force to Fort Tuli, an area contended by the Boers, to re-establish their presence in the area and renovate the Fort. This was followed by a further police deployment on 11 September, when Lieutenant-Colonel William Bodle marched out to Tuli with 100 men, include a third of them from Mashonaland under the commend of Major Nesbit, VC. They were joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Plumer, of Matabele War fame, and some 400 newly recruited men of the newly former Rhodesia Regiment.

To be completed.....

 

East Africa: 1915-18 - The Great War

Rhodesia: 1968-79 - Rhodesian Civil War
 

 

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Serious Crime

 

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Colours

The Regiment received, along with fifty-one other units, a Banner, presented to the Regiment by Lord Milner on behalf of King Edward VII at Mafeking in 1904 in recognition of services rendered to the British Empire.  It was stated specifically at the time that the Banner was not a Regimental Colour.   Despite this, the Banner was.  mistakenly, used in place of a Colour and with an embroidered Battle Honour,  but this action was not sanctioned by official regulations. 



Photograph of the actual British South Africa Police Banner - Officers Mess, Morris Depot, Salisbury: Picture by courtesy Cliff Rogers (4753)

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Uniforms and Badges
British South Africa Company Police
(1890 - 1891)

 A Trooper of the British South Africa Company Police, established by Royal Charter to accompany the Pioneer Column to Salisbury.



















Picture by courtesy Richard Hamley


British South Africa Police (Circa 1953): First Sergeant

Dress Order No.  1 was utilised on all special occasions and on ceremonial parades comprising members of the BSA Police and was also the uniform of mounted escorts (with white universal helmet in place of the cap) and motorcycle escorts.   The bedford-cord riding breeches were adapted from a style first introduced in the 1920's. 
 

 

 

 

 

 


Picture by courtesy Richard Hamley

 

British South Africa Police Circa 1979):
Patrol Officer / Dog Handler

Dress Order No.  3 was the Summer uniform of the BSA Police worn mostly by the town police and fabricate in teryelene, which was first introduced in 1960.  Brown boots and leather leggings were standard issue to all uniform police officers.

 

 

 

 

 


Picture by courtesy Richard Hamley


The drawings displayed on this website are extracts from "The Regiment - A History and the Uniforms of the British South Africa Police" written and illustrated by Richard Hamley and published by Covos Day, by courtesy and authorisation of Richard Hamley.  


 

Rank Structure

Pre-1961 Post 1970
African Constable  Constable
African 2nd Sergeant  2nd Sergeant


 
African 1st Sergeant  1st Sergeant
African Station Sergeant  Sergeant Major
  Sub Inspector


 
   
Constable  Patrol Officer


 
2nd Sergeant  Patrol Officer (above Efficiency Barrier)
1st Sergeant  Section Officer


 
Sub-Inspector   
Inspector Inspector


 
Chief Inspector Chief Inspector


 
Assistant Superintendent  
Superintendent  Superintendent


 
Chief Superintendent  Chief Superintendent


 
  Assistant Commissioner


 
  Senior Assistant Commissioner


 
Deputy Commissioner  Deputy Commissioner


 
Commissioner  Commissioner


 

Acknowledgements to Wayne Kennerley for photographs provided          

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Commissioners

 Bodle, William (1855-1924); CMG - Lt.  Colonel - October 1903 to 26 June 1906
 

Fuller, JH ( -1931); Lt. 


Colonel - Commissioner 1909 to 1911

Drury, Gordon Vallancy (1865? -1917); Matabeleland War 1893; Queens South African Medal; Kings South Africa Medal; MID - Major - Commissioner 1911-1 November 1913


 Edwards, Sir Alfred Hamilton Mackenzie (1862-1944) KBE; CB; MVO; Maj.  General - Commissioner 1913 to 31 January 1923


 Essex-Capell, Alernon (1869-1952) CBE; DSO; Colonel - Commissioner 1 February 1923 to 11 February 1926


 Stops, George (1876-1940) CBE; Colonel


Commissioner 13 May 1926 to 14 February 1933


 Morris, John S (1119) (1890-1961) CBE; KPM; CPM; Brigadier - Commissioner 13 February 1933 to 24 April 1945

Ross, John Ellis (1771) (1893-1965) CBE; CVO; KPM;


Brigadier - Commissioner 24 April 1945 to 6 December 1950

Appleby, James (2123) (1899-1995) CBE; KPM; Colonel - Commissioner 7 December 1950 to 2 June 1954


 Hickman, Arthur Selwyn (2622) (1900-1976) OBE; QPM; CPM


Colonel - Commissioner 3 June 1954 to 5 November 1955


 Jackson, Harold (2853) ( - ) CBE; KPM; CPM; Colonel - Commissioner: 6 November 1955 to 12 March 1958


 Spurling, Basil Gordon (3100) ( -1991) CBE; CPM; QPM


Commissioner: 13 March 1958 to 25 April 1963


 Barfoot, Frank Eric (3342) (1913-1971) ID; CBE; QPM; CPM - Commissioner: 26 April 1963 to 2 January 1968


 Spink, James (3743) (1914-1997)ICD; PLSM


Commissioner: 3 January 1968 to 26 June 1970

Bristow, Sydney Frederick Samuel (3844)(1919-2008) CLM, PCD; PLSM, CPM


Commission: 27 June 1970 - 6th February 1974

Sherren, Peter Dennis Wray Richard (3862) ( -1995) CLM; GLM; OLM; PCD; PLSM; RGSM


Commissioner: 7 February 1974 to 6 February 1978
 

Allum, Peter Kevin (3939) (1926- )CLM; OLM; PLSM; RGSM


Commissioner: 7 February 1978 to 1 August 1980 (Cessation of the British South Africa Police).  He  continued as Commission of the Zimbabwe Republic Police until 6 February 1982.

 Abbreviations:
CBE: Commander of the Order of the British Empire
CPM: Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service
CVO: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
DSO: Distinguished Service Order
KBE: Knight (Commander of the Order) of the British Empire
QPM: Queens Police Medal for Distinguished Service

 

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Medals and Awards

 A New page has been opened up to accomodate a more detailed listing of Medals, Honours and Awards which may be found at the link provided
 

Vehicles

 

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References and Acknowledgements

 

Click here to join BSAPHistory
Click to join BSAPHistory

This abridged history of the BSA Police was not intended as a detailed account of the force's history.  Interested readers should visit the Bibliography which has a feast of reference books listed for both the aspiring and seasoned researcher.

© Andrew Field, Harare, Zimbabwe

 

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